Funeral, Eulogy, and Memorial Talks
EULOGY FOR PATRICIA CARGILE
[Talk presented by John E. Enslen at graveside services, Rocky Mount Cemetery, Prattville, Alabama on January 28, 202 at 2:00 p.m.]
Thank you for your presence here today. It is my honor to present the eulogy.
Patricia Mae Duncan was born in Charleston, South Carolina, on July 22, 1950, to Jamie Claude Duncan and Blanche Elizabeth Finley Duncan. She had one sister, Nina Elizabeth Park, who preceded her in death. She is survived by her niece Amanda Park Carmichael and husband Chad, and by her nephew Chris Park and wife Elizabeth, and by her great niece Sydney Carmichael and her great nephew Brandon Park.
Pat, as she was affectionately known by family and friends, met Charles Leonard Cargile at a rodeo in 1971 when she was 21 years of age. Charlie, age 30 at the time, was participating in the rodeo, roping steers, as you see depicted on his granite slab. They married and lived together for 33 years in a home on his ancestral lands at the bottom of this hill where the northern entrance to Bass Pro is now located. Charlie’s mother, Sallie Cobb Cargile, lived adjacent to them.
I first came to know Charlie and Pat in 1986 after Charlie became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. For the next 18 years, I was Charlie’s attorney and friend and fellow worker in the Church. Charlie died in 2004. Before he died, he asked me to look after Pat and see that she was buried in the plot next to him that he devised to her in his will.
By the way, the historical plaque at the entrance to this cemetery mentions revolutionary soldier Bolling Hall who was one of Charlie’s direct lineal ancestors. Hall was the chairman of the reception committee to welcome Revolutionary War hero General Lafayette on his tour of the southern states in 1824. Charlie and Pat have many Cobb relatives buried in this cemetery. That is the same Cobb family for which Cobbs Ford Road is named. After Charlie’s death, Pat moved to a new home and farm in Matthews, Alabama, where she resided the past 20 years until her death. She passed away in her home on Friday afternoon, January 12, 2024, from an apparent heart attack. She was reading in her bed. One of her favorite things to do was to curl up in a chair with a cup of warm apple cider beside her, with at least one cat in her lap, and a good book in her hands. And each cat would have a distinct personal name, as did all her animals.
If we were to ask people what they will remember most about Pat, one of the things that will be high on everyone’s list is her love of animals. She loved all animals, but particularly horses. For years she conducted a riding school, teaching youngsters and adults the English style of riding. Her email address was “learn2ride@att.net.”
In late 2006, when I was going to be away from home for more than a year, I gave Pat my llama. In ridicule, I usually called him “Dolly Llama,” but she out of respect for the animal promptly changed his name to Chester. For the next eleven years, she cared for Chester, providing for his every need. After Chester reached age 95 in “llama years,’’ he died in 2017 of natural causes incident to age. Pat sent me notice of his death, which I will read in her own words as typical of her deep love for all her animals:
“Dear John,
It is with great sadness that I must report the loss of our sweet, gentle, Chester. He was always on his toes, protecting the goats in shifts with his pasture mate P.J. Donkey. I think he enjoyed his latter days here at the farm and at his advanced age his passing was not too unexpected. He was well cared for and very much loved. He will be greatly missed and never be forgotten. I am still grieving the loss of Chester. I can barely stand to look at the big oak tree in the pasture where Chester loved to lounge around under it when he wasn’t on goat watching duty. Thank you for the years of joy you made possible by your gift of Chester. Pat.”
That note to me demonstrates another character trait of Pat. She was kind. She was reluctant to speak ill of anyone. She was richly endowed, to her own detriment, with the ability to see the good to be redeemed in others, even when there was very little good to be seen. Thus, she was easily made a victim by others who would take advantage of her. Perhaps that weakness will weigh in her favor on Judgment Day.
Regarding her kindness, I want to show you an object that demonstrates a special kindness to me. She was at my home one hot summer day and saw me unloading my groceries packed in numerous plastic bags, including a bag containing my thawing ice cream. Within a few days, I received a gift from Pat—this large blue bag that will keep frozen items cold. I have used it consistently over the past five or six years, and I cannot pick it up without thinking of her kindness in giving it to me.
I can say for Pat that which she said for Chester, and she would not be offended by the analogy. She will be “greatly missed and never be forgotten.” There must be a special place in heaven for those who love and care for God’s creatures.
May we cherish our good memories of Pat until we meet her again.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.